Thought for the Day – 13 December – The Desire for Perfection

Thought for the Day – 13 December – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Desire for Perfection

“Make and keep yourselves holy,” God commands us, “because, I Am Holy.” (Lev 11:44; 19:2).
“You are to be perfect,” adds Jesus Christs, “even as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).

We are obliged, therefore, to make every possible effort, to advance in holiness.
Sad experience teaches us, however, that it is very dfifficult to reach the level of sanctity to which we are called by God and, that it is impossible to achieve the absolute perfection which God alone possesses.
Why then, does God place before us such an inacessible goal?
Simply because, although He knows that we cannot attain the perfect holiness which is to be found in our heavenly Father, He wants us to desire it with all our hearts and to do our best to approach as near to it as we can.

This desire for sanctity should dominate all our actions.
It may be impossible for us to achieve Christian perfection completely but, we should always strive towards it.
All our actions and affections should form a ladder which will enable us to climb nearer to this ideal.
If the desire for perfection dominates our entire lives, it will one day dominate and brighten the supreme moment of death.
If we lack this desire, we shall fall into a state of tepidity and of indifference to spiritual realities which will inevitably end in sin.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci